Why isn't my Neuro looking at my MRIs?

[Twinsmom06]

Is it common for a neuro to not even look at your MRIs or review them with you? My Neuro AND my second opinion based their conversation around what the radiologist wrote. Neither have actually looked at my 7 MRIs.

And can a radiologist be wrong...does it happen often. I know I don't have a "trained eye" nor a medical degree but my hospital MRI of the brain had over 1000 slides whereas the one done at the neuro's office had about 150. The radiologist reports no changes between MRIs. I'm pretty sure I see changes (again...no doc here) but how the world to you compare those two MRIs when I have so many lesions? How can you possibly see the same amount of information when both MRIs vary so much?

I'm just really second guessing everything at this point...ugh.

Any thoughts??
Thanks!
Kim

[Twinsmom06]

Thank you all so much for your comments. I was just surprised to have two different neurologists base our talks around a report and saying themselves that they have not seen the MRI. I just don't get it. If I were going to make a potential life changing Dx for someone. You better believe I want to see each piece of the puzzle with my own eyes!
Again, thanks for all the feedback!
Kim:)

[SarahL2491]

Oh yes they can and do.  Mine said done according to MS protocol and it took 4 neuros before one picked up on it.........

keep picking away and in my opinion, a neuro who won't go over the MRI himself is not a reliable neuro, he's asking someone else to do part of his job.

just sayin.......I spent too long in limbo-land listening to such idiots

[anon07072023]

Kim, Yes, radiologists AND neuros can make mistakes reading your MRIs.  

For me, I've had 3 different neuros.  Two of the three didn't read my MRIs, they just went by what the radiologist put in the report.  Around where I live, this is very common - for the neuro not to read the scans themselves.  

With that said, the one neuro that DID look at my MRI scans himself found 6 lesions that were missing from the report in my brain, 3 black holes and an extra lesion in my spine. So...they found 10 more than the radiologist found. And this neuro is the one who diagnosed me with MS.  

It is very frustrating to listen to them tell me - "there are x amount of images on that CD, I'm not going to look at it."  WTH???    

-Kelly

[Sidesteps]

PS -

HUGS

[Sidesteps]

Kim,

Yes...they can make mistakes. I'm a perfect example. I had THREE MRI's and a big fat lesion in the prime location was missed each time. I decided after the third Neuro not seeing it that it was time for me to leave my County and area hospitals.

I think there were some loyaly issues between doctors. I understand that they trust each other but sometimes... well... that is why we have checks and balances in large banks. People are human. They make mistakes.

It sort of sounds like you are where I was. I think JJ is spot on with regard to location and waiting for a specific documented attack that is specific to MS. I'm sorry Kim. Hang in there.

[supermum_ms]

Morning Paula,

I'd like to say that its unusual, but alas I think its becoming all to common for neuro's to rely on the reports and not look at the scans them selves. Can a radiologist be wrong, yes of course but dont forget they may only be reporting on the current MRI not compairing prior ones and looking for changes, I think it all falls back to the Neuro. I've seen 2 neuro's, neither specialised in MS and quite frankly i'm not up for repeating the experience until a good chunk of time has gone by.

The first neuro I saw was a shocker, the radiologist's after the MRI was asking me questions about MS, how long i'd had MS etc etc  so i was totally blown away when the Neuro said I had "a perfect brain" and "no lesion at all" his opinion was possibly senile dementia, errrr I'd just turned 45 so ummmmm WHAT? I suspect he'd only looked at the report but even then his no lesions comment didnt even match what the report said. He did bring up a couple of scan pics to show me, though i highly doubt he did anything more with them than that.

The second was worse than the first, only positive was I got my hands on the report and a copy of the MRI. I know this one never saw the MRI because he asked me to get a copy for him and he dismissed the report with hardly anything more than what could be called a 'glance' his opinion hardly bears repeating lol moronic is being kind lol

I've only ever had one 1.5T MRI (brain & spine) no contrast, that was back in 09, I expect its changed as my sx are now more pronounced than they were then. My report states i've got a chronic number of T2 lesions in the white matter and deep white matter, inconsistent with my age and specifically mentions no lesion in the corpus callum (CC).

I've always suspected that because the report mentions the CC not having a lesion, which is supose to be a slam dunk location for MS, all the rest of my lesions have been dismissed, the actual number, where they are etc is not even recorded apart from them being in the white matter and deep white matter. Even the size isn't mentioned on mine, i've seen them and they each stand out so no scattered foci here lol

Location, size and even shape are vitally important when dx MS, but clinical signs of lesion are important too. Its gob smackingly daft to suspect MS because of a patients clinical signs and history, go looking for lesions on MRI, find lesions but dismiss them because there isn't one in a particular MS location, so its gets beyond daft when there is no other medical explanation for these lesions or clinical signs.

Oh-kay, so here's where your at, you have lesions, i've seen your scan pic's and considering your only 31 years old and you do have brain lesions they warrent an explanation, so if your not getting an explanation. then i'd be asking questions until you did.

What does each report say about these lesions?
What does the neuro say about these lesions?
What does the neuro say about your clinical signs and sx?

The thing to remember is that lesions dont necessarily add up to MS, but at your age the alternative dx are sort of limited, so you need to take a deep breath and make sure you get an explanation from your neuro, if your not at all comfortable with him/her please seek a second or third etc opinion.

HUGS...............JJ

[figuerpa]

Hi there,

My neuro at first only went off what the radiologist report said. Then when more lesions showed up he started showing me where they were.

As you said you are not a doctor nor am I, all I can say is that it takes a very trained eye to read the scans. The radiologist go to many years of school in order to be able to tell what is normal and what is not.

I am not trying to discourage you, if you want your neuro to go over  them with you then ask him too. Point out to him what you think the lesions are and he/she can say what it is you are seeing.

It is very confusing and frustrating going through the process, but it is something we all have to do and all we can do is try to be patient while the process goes on. I know this is easier said than done because there were times that I just wanted to give up but couldn't give up because my body wouldn't let me.

Wishing you the best of luck,
Paula